The global phenomenon that has taken the world by storm, for those that aren't familiar, Instagram is an Iphone app which allows you to add digital filters to create a quirky vintage aesthetic then share across a platform of social media sites, including Facebook and Twitter. The app has been a huge success recently being brought for $1 Billion. The full article is here : http://www.pocket-lint.com/news/45215/facebook-buys-instagram-social-photos
Naturally this sparked a bit of a debate on my course, is there any real value in photography apps such as Instagram. Personally speaking I feel that Instagram is great, it has re-captured a lot of peoples interest in photography and inspired many people.
Many professional photographers may feel this over saturated mode of expression is degrading however surely any mode of creativity is better than non at all? It's a mode of expression that is available to everyone ( as long as you own an I phone) and I think that is what has driven it's success. I feel that Instagram has resurfaced what Kodak did with Polaroid...capturing the imagination of the general public.
I feel that the debate of whether just purely adding filters adds value to a photograph that would be previously seen as mundane is irrelevant as it is not meant as a serious photographic tool, however there are exceptions to this as the are a lot of serious, "Instagram Photographers" who do create impressive work using the app.
Here are a few examples of breaking past "photographs of food"
Images: http://www.keepsy.com/gallery/koci
Many professional photographers may feel this over saturated mode of expression is degrading however surely any mode of creativity is better than non at all? It's a mode of expression that is available to everyone ( as long as you own an I phone) and I think that is what has driven it's success. I feel that Instagram has resurfaced what Kodak did with Polaroid...capturing the imagination of the general public.
I feel that the debate of whether just purely adding filters adds value to a photograph that would be previously seen as mundane is irrelevant as it is not meant as a serious photographic tool, however there are exceptions to this as the are a lot of serious, "Instagram Photographers" who do create impressive work using the app.
Here are a few examples of breaking past "photographs of food"
Images: http://www.keepsy.com/gallery/koci
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